Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson

The Masters: Henrik Stenson among leaders after opening 69


Henrik Stenson discovered a lack of practice made perfect as he celebrated his 42nd birthday in style in the Masters.

Stenson only arrived at Augusta National on Tuesday afternoon and played a total of 13 holes in practice, but broke 70 on the opening day for the first time with a three-under-par 69.

"It's a tiring week. It's easy to overdo it out there," said the former Open champion, who had been a cumulative 59 over par in his previous 12 Masters starts.

"I feel like that's the bonus you have from playing here so many times, I know this golf course pretty well and what to do.

"I was here for the Monday of last week, I stopped by here and I was on the course and putted a lot. It was a bad weather day, it was 45 (degrees) and windy. I didn't even hit a full shot all day on the course.

"But spending time out there, refreshing your memory, I think that's the best way to do it overall. I played four holes on Tuesday afternoon, the back nine on Wednesday. I haven't played a full 18 holes this year before teeing it up. So it worked out pretty good."

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